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Phrasal verbs "wear down" vs "wear out"

Differences between wear down and wear out

Wear down means to gradually weaken or exhaust someone or something, while wear out means to make someone or something extremely tired or to damage something through overuse.

Meanings and Definitions: wear down vs wear out

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Wear down

  • 1Make something weaker.

    The stress of my job is WEARING me DOWN.

Wear out

  • 1Use something until it stops working.

    She played the video so many times that she WORE the tape OUT.

Usage Examples: wear down, wear out in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

wear down

Example

The constant noise wears down my patience.

Example

The rough surface wears down the tires quickly.

wear out

Example

If you keep using that old backpack, you'll wear it out soon.

Example

He wears out his shoes quickly because he walks so much.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Wear down

erode

To gradually wear away or deteriorate something.

Example

The constant exposure to the elements had eroded the paint on the old house.

sap one's energy

To gradually drain or exhaust someone's energy or strength.

Example

The long hours at work had sapped his energy, and he felt too tired to do anything else.

grind down

To wear away or reduce something through persistent effort or pressure.

Example

The constant stress of the job had ground him down, and he needed a break.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Wear out

exhaust

To make someone extremely tired or to use up all of someone's energy or resources.

Example

The long hike had exhausted her, and she needed to rest.

run down

To become exhausted or depleted through overuse or neglect.

Example

The old car had been run down and needed a lot of repairs.

break down

To stop working or functioning properly due to overuse or damage.

Example

The washing machine had broken down after years of heavy use.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “wear”

Phrasal Verbs with “out”

Differences in wear down vs wear out: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: wear down or wear out?

Both wear down and wear out are commonly used in everyday conversation. However, wear out is slightly more common because it's used to describe physical exhaustion, which is a common experience for many people.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of wear down and wear out

Both wear down and wear out are informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations. However, if you're writing a formal document or speaking in a professional setting, you may want to use more formal expressions such as 'fatigue' or 'deplete'.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of wear down and wear out

Wear down has a more gradual and persistent tone, while wear out has a more immediate and intense tone.

wear down & wear out: Synonyms and Antonyms

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